The Biographical Dictionary of America/Anderson, Thomas MacArthur

ANDERSON, Thomas MacArthur, soldier, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Jan. 22, 1836. He was a nephew of Gen. Robert Anderson. He was graduated at Mount St. Mary's college, Emmittsburg, Md., in 1855, and at the Cincinnati law school in 1858. He practised at Newport, Ky., 1858-'61; was a private in the 6th Ohio volunteers, April 20 to May 15, 1861, when he was transferred to the regular army as 1st lieutenant in the 2d U.S. cavalry, and was made captain in the 12th infantry, Oct. 8, 1861. He was brevetted major, Aug. 1, 1864, and lieutenant-colonel, August, 1864. He was twice wounded, and escaped from Libby prison. He was transferred to the 21st infantry, Sept. 21, 1866; promoted major, March 26, 1868; assigned to the 10th infantry, June 24, 1869; was government attorney in the Mexican depredation claim of 1873, and commanded the infantry in Mackenzie's campaign of 1875. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 9th infantry, March 20, 1879, and colonel of the 14th infantry, Sept. 6, 1886, when he commanded Fort Cuvier, Washington Territory, the department of the Columbia and a sub-district in Alaska. In the war with Spain he was made brigadier-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898, and assigned to the department of the Pacific, and was promoted major-general of volunteers, Aug. 13, 1898. He commanded the 1st division of the 8th army corps in the Philippines. He was promoted brigadier-general in the regular army, March 31, 1899, and in May, 1899, was placed in command of the department of the lakes with headquarters at Chicago, Ill. He was elected vice-president-general of the Sons of the American Revolution, and commander of the Oregon commandery of the Loyal Legion. He was placed on the retired list Jan. 20, 1900. He was married to Elizabeth Van Winkle of New Jersey. Their son, Thomas MacArthur Anderson, Jr., served in Texas as private, corporal, and sergeant in troop G, 4th U.S. cavalry, Aug. 28, 1894, to June 27, 1897, was promoted 2d lieutenant, 13th infantry, June 8, 1897, and commanded company B at Santiago, Cuba, July 1-4, 1898. The father received the degree LL.D. from Mount St. Mary's college in 1899; published, "Conspiracies Preceding the Rebellion," and became commandant of the Pennsylvania Soldiers' Home in 1901.